Ch. 1311 - Meeting New People

“The Ancient Demon Realm can only be entered by those of Ancient Demon blood,” said Celestial Devourer.

“The Lord need only channel his infernal energy into this wordless stone tablet, and you’ll see the entire layout of the realm.”

Xu Zimo nodded. Dark infernal energy began to swirl around his right hand.

But before he could send it into the stele, the tablet began to tremble.

Two masses of black mist floated out from it.

“Someone’s coming out,” Celestial Devourer muttered.

Xu Zimo saw Demon Minister Wei and another elder carrying a dragon-headed staff.

“Greetings, Ancestor Celestial Devourer,” the two said respectfully, bowing deeply.

Celestial Devourer barely acknowledged Wei, the man’s rank was far too low to matter. His gaze instead fell on the elder with the dragon-headed staff.

“Ancestral Warden, I assume Hellfire Asura sent you?” Celestial Devourer asked coldly.

“Yes, Lord Hellfire Asura heard that an honored guest had arrived, so he sent me to welcome him,” Ancestral Warden said with a polite smile. “I dared not be late, though it seems I nearly was.”

“Why didn’t he come himself?” Celestial Devourer asked in irritation.

“Celestial Devourer,” Xu Zimo said lightly, “let it be. There’s no need to force anyone. Times have changed, and many no longer see the world as they once did.”

“Please, honored guest,” Ancestral Warden said with another smile, gesturing toward the stele.

At his motion, the wordless stone tablet transformed. Billows of black mist erupted skyward, spreading like waves until even the heavens were veiled.

This was no ordinary infernal energy, it obscured fate itself. Even the Heavenly Dao would not be able to see what lay beneath.

The sight reminded Xu Zimo of the Ghost-God Heaven, an entire world sealed away, the cost of such concealment beyond imagination.

The barren ruins around him faded away, replaced by the true form of the Ancient Demon Realm.

Towering mountains of black rock pierced the heavens.

Gigantic Ancient Demons, their bodies as large as planets, patrolled the horizon, their eyes glowing like scarlet moons, each pupil spanning thousands of miles.

A vast demon river cut through the endless plains, its riverbed paved with stones the size of ancient mountains.

Fire Ancient Demons with crimson horns lived in the mouths of volcanoes.

Ice Ancient Demons slumbered deep beneath the ground, and with each breath they drew, waves of frost rippled across the surface.

This was the Ancient Demons’ world, chaotic, primal, and alive.

Every type of demon existed here, countless and varied.

Their architecture, too, was strange and diverse, each structure unique, unbound by order yet full of character.

The Ancient Demons had lived here for countless ages. Only the oldest among them, like Celestial Devourer, remembered how long, over six hundred million years. The younger generations didn’t care; such history meant nothing to them.

Xu Zimo surveyed the vast landscape. The Ancient Demon Realm, shaped and rebuilt over endless eras, had long since become a complete and self-sustaining world.

Here, everything one could imagine existed.

“Where would you like to go, honored guest?” Ancestral Warden asked with a smile.

“I’ll look around on my own. You don’t need to follow,” Xu Zimo said. “If other Ancient Demons see you tailing me, they might grow suspicious.”

Ancestral Warden hesitated. Hellfire Asura’s orders were clear, he was to keep Xu Zimo company and ensure he left satisfied.

“There’s me here,” Celestial Devourer said coldly. “He told you to leave, so go.”

Seeing the displeasure in Celestial Devourer’s face, Ancestral Warden could only bow and retreat.

Though he followed Hellfire Asura’s commands, even he wouldn’t dare defy Celestial Devourer, one of the oldest and strongest demon ancestors still living.

As Ancestral Warden’s figure faded into the mist, Xu Zimo also dismissed Celestial Devourer, sending him back to the God World.

If he wanted to observe the Ancient Demon Race honestly, he couldn’t come as anyone’s master or leader.

He had to blend in, be one of them, an ordinary demon among Ancient Demons.

The Ancient Demon Realm now housed over a hundred trillion Ancient Demons.

Over the years, Celestial Devourer had secluded himself in cultivation, rarely involving himself in the realm’s affairs.

Most matters were handled by Hellfire Asura, who effectively managed everything.

Even this limited number of Ancient Demons was deliberate. Hellfire Asura feared that if their population grew too large, it would draw the Heavenly Dao’s attention, and its wrath.

They could never allow another Demon Descent Era to begin.

Rolling mountains stretched endlessly, plains reached beyond sight.

There were no true seasons here, each region existed as its inhabitants wished.

In one corner, snow fell year-round, where Ice Ancient Demons made their home.

Elsewhere, volcanic heat burned the air where Fire Ancient Demons dwelled.

Xu Zimo traveled far, alone, until he arrived before an imposing academy.

He had passed many Ancient Demons along the way, all young, none recognizing him.

Two large characters marked the entrance.

Demon Academy.

Its black walls gleamed like polished obsidian, enclosing the grounds.

The main gate was carved like a monstrous face, its gaping mouth glaring at all who passed beneath.

The academy radiated power and authority.

Two massive infernal eagles perched atop the eaves, their dark eyes sweeping over the crowd below.

Just as Xu Zimo was about to enter, a small group of students emerged.

“Wang Lin, the Ancient Demon Road is about to open, but we’re still short one person,” one of them said.

There were four students, two men and two women, all wearing long black cloaks with high collars that nearly covered their necks.

“With Hong Ze’s group taking part, no one dares to team up with us,” another grumbled.

“If we give up now, it’ll be such a waste. The Ancient Demon Road only opens once in a hundred years! If we miss this chance, who knows when the next will come?”

The leader, Wang Lin, short-haired with a cross-shaped scar on his temple, snorted. “I don’t believe it. In all the Ancient Demon Realm, we can’t find a single person to join us?”

“Mo Gu’s group offered, but their price was too high. We can’t afford it,” said the other man helplessly.

As they talked, Wang Lin looked up, and spotted Xu Zimo.

His eyes brightened as if struck by inspiration.

“You there, what’s your name?” he called, walking up.

“Xu Zimo,” came the calm reply.

“Have you heard of the Ancient Demon Road?” Wang Lin asked. “You look like someone with potential. We’ve got one spot left, how about joining us?”

“Sure,” Xu Zimo said simply.

He had been planning to infiltrate the demon ranks anyway, and now opportunity had walked right up to him.

The others were taken aback by how quickly he agreed.

“That’s it? Just like that?” one of them said incredulously.

“That’s what I call a blessing in disguise,” Wang Lin laughed. “A pleasure to meet you, I’m Wang Lin.”

The others introduced themselves as well.

The other man was named Xu Jiama.

Of the two women, the graceful and refined one was Lan Caidie, while the other, curvaceous and fiery, was Zhang Yuwen.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet at the Victory Tower inside the academy,” Wang Lin told Xu Zimo.

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